Systems and methods for secure package delivery

• US 10,657,483 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2014
• Issued: 05/19/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lyman, Jefferson, Hatch, Brandon
• Primary Examiner(s): Erb, Nathan
• Application Number:
  US14/264,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20150310381A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,212 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for enabling secure delivery of a package to a designated delivery area of a premises is described. In one embodiment, information regarding a delivery of a package to a premises may be received, a delivery person arriving at the premises may be detected, and instructions may be provided to the delivery person regarding how to deliver the package to the designated delivery area within the premises.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for enabling secure delivery of a package to a delivery area, comprising:

receiving, via one or more processors, information regarding a delivery of the package to a premises;

detecting, via the one or more processors, a pattern associated with the delivery of the package, wherein the pattern is based at least in part on one or more previous deliveries;

determining a location of an occupant of the premises and whether the occupant is beyond a predefined distance from the premises;

selecting, via the one or more processors, the delivery area within the premises based at least in part on the detected pattern and the location of the occupant;

detecting, via the one or more processors, a delivery person arriving at the premises by a delivery vehicle associated with a delivery company;

receiving, via the one or more processors, information relating to an identity of the delivery person including at least the delivery company;

querying an external server of the delivery company to determine a location of the delivery vehicle and authenticate a location of the delivery person based at least in part on determining the location of the delivery vehicle;

in response to authenticating the location of the delivery person, wirelessly actuating unlocking, via the one or more processors, of the selected delivery area within the premises and verifying, via the one or more processors, that a remaining area within the premises is locked; and

providing instructions to the delivery person regarding how to deliver the package to the selected delivery area within the premises.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon authenticating the location of the delivery person, granting the delivery person access to the delivery area.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon verifying that at least one monitored lock of the premises is in a locked position, granting the delivery person access to the delivery area.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

capturing at least one image of the delivery person placing the package in the delivery area.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

capturing an image of the delivery area; and

performing image analysis on the captured image to identify a designated delivery location within the delivery area by detecting an indicator of the designated delivery location.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

analyzing the captured image to detect whether access to the designated delivery location is obstructed; and

upon detecting access to the designated delivery location is obstructed, generating a notification comprising information regarding the detected obstruction.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

requesting the occupant of the premises to select the delivery area and to specify a location within the delivery area where the package is to be placed by the delivery person.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon determining the location of the occupant is beyond the predefined distance of the premises, automatically selecting a type of delivery, the type of delivery specifying a location at the premises where the package is to be placed by the delivery person.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

upon determining the location of the occupant is within the predefined distance of the premises, requesting the occupant to select the type of delivery.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon determining the package is delivered securely, sending a delivery notification, wherein the delivery notification comprises at least one of information regarding the delivery of the package, an image of the delivered package, and a system security overview.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon detecting the occupant approaching the premises subsequent to the delivery of the package, sending a reminder notification, the reminder notification comprising at least one of a reminder that the package is delivered, information regarding the delivery of the package, and an image of the delivered package.

12. A computing device configured for enabling secure delivery of a package to a delivery area, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

receive information regarding a delivery of the package to a premises;

detect a pattern associated with the delivery of the package, wherein the pattern is based at least in part on one or more previous deliveries;

determine a location of an occupant of the premises and whether the occupant is beyond a predefined distance from the premises;

select the delivery area within the premises based at least in part on the detected pattern and the location of the occupant;

detect a delivery person arriving at the premises by a delivery vehicle associated with a delivery company;

receive information relating to an identity of the delivery person including at least the delivery company;

query an external server of the delivery company to determine a location of the delivery vehicle and authenticate a location of the delivery person based at least in part on determining the location of the delivery vehicle;

upon authenticating the location of the delivery person, wirelessly actuate unlocking of the selected delivery area within the premises and verify that a remaining area within the premises is locked; and

provide instructions to the delivery person regarding how to deliver the package to the selected delivery area within the premises.

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

upon authenticating the location of the delivery person, grant the delivery person access to the delivery area.

14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

upon verifying that at least one monitored lock of the premises is in a locked position, grant the delivery person access to the delivery area.

15. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

capture at least one image of the delivery person placing the package in the delivery area.

16. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

perform image analysis on an image of the delivery area to identify a designated delivery location within the delivery area by detecting an indicator of the designated delivery location.

17. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

analyze the image of the delivery area to detect whether access to the designated delivery location is obstructed; and

upon detecting access to the designated delivery location is obstructed, generate a notification comprising information regarding the detected obstruction.

18. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

upon determining the location of the occupant is beyond the predefined distance of the premises, automatically select a type of delivery, the type of delivery specifying a location at the premises where the package is to be placed by the delivery person.

19. A computer-program product for enabling, by a processor, secure delivery of a package to a delivery area, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions thereon, the instructions being executable by the processor to:

receive information regarding a delivery of the package to a premises;

detect a pattern associated with the delivery of the package, wherein the pattern is based at least in part on one or more previous deliveries;

determine a location of an occupant of the premises and whether the occupant is beyond a predefined distance from the premises;

select the delivery area within the premises based at least in part on the detected pattern and the location of the occupant;

detect a delivery person arriving at the premises by a delivery vehicle associated with a delivery company;

receive information relating to an identity of the delivery person including at least the delivery company;

query an external server of the delivery company to determine a location of the delivery vehicle and authenticate a location of the delivery person based at least in part on determining the location of the delivery vehicle;

upon authenticating the location of the delivery person, wirelessly actuate unlocking of the selected delivery area within the premises and verify that a remaining area within the premises is locked; and

provide instructions to the delivery person regarding how to deliver the package to the selected delivery area within the premises.

20. The computer-program product of claim 19, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

upon authenticating the location of the delivery person, grant the delivery person access to the delivery area.